February 28, 2014

K-State Military Education and Family Initiatives Symposium on March 11

Two colleges joined together to create a professional development symposium focusing on educational and family initiatives for students, educators and area professionals who interact with military-connected students.

The colleges of Education and Human Ecology are co-hosting the K-State Military Education and Family Initiatives Symposium March 11 at Fort Riley. The symposium will offer a series of presentations: one related to education initiatives, including K-12 education for military kids and adult education for soldiers returning to the classroom. The other sets of presentations will focus on family and community-based initiatives and current research on relevant issues.

Briana Nelson Goff, professor of family studies and human service and director of the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families, said this professional development symposium promises relevant information for all attendees. She believes it is especially powerful to share this information with those at Fort Riley who are directly serving military personnel and families.

“We have worked very hard to establish a military-inclusive environment at K-State, and we have many faculty who do research, teach and develop service programs that serve our military population, which includes current serving, veterans, military spouses and military kids,” Goff said. “This symposium will provide an opportunity to showcase some of the current military programs and research being conducted at K-State.”

Goff said it is important to understand the impact the last 12-plus years of war have had on military service members, veterans and families, and it is critical to continue to address as the issues they face will not go away, even when they leave military service. It is important for community members and others to be able to stay up-to-date on current research and programs to assist military.